Vanity case



Nov. 17, 1942. 5, J, MATwAY v 2,302,043

VANITY CASE Filed March 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gin/0W SEW/{:9 JHalfway,

Nov. 17, 1942. s. 3. MATWAY 2,302,043

v VANITY CASE File d Marc z h 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o o I o lloPatented Nov. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VANITY CASE Stanley J.Matway, New Kensingt on, Pa. Application March 11, 1941, Serial No.382,838

1 Claim;

My invention relates to vanity cases and has as one of the principalobjects thereof the provision of a vanity case equipped withilluminating means selectively operable for illuminating the face of theuser, when the mirror is in open position, in order that the features ofthe face may be clearly visible, or serving as a flash-light, when themirror is in closed position, for illuminating dark or shadowed areas.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which is simple in construction, durable in use,efli'cient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, appended claim and annexed drawings. 7

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my inven-' tion.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation with the cover in open position.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a detail fragmentary'seotional view As illustrated in thedrawings, my novel vanity case 4 comprises a; receptacle 5 in the formof an elongated pan having a top wall or tray 6 formed with a pluralityof compartments 1 for containing the usual cosmetics, for instance,powder. rouge and lip-stick. The receptacle 5 is also provided withside, bottom, front and rear end walls 8, 9, i and II respectively andwith the bottom wall 9 being of a substantially U-shaped configurationin plan. The side portions l2 of the bottom wall are connected together,adjacent the front wall ID by means of a cross portion l3 which,together with the side portions l2 defines an elongated centrallydisposed aperture l4 within the bottom wall 9 for a purpose hereinaftermade apparent.

The inner faces of the side portions l2 of the bottom wall 9, adjacentthe aperture l4, are provided with guideways l slidably receiving slides"5 formed on the side edges of a closure plate I! normally closing saidaperture l4 and forming part of an illuminating unit hereinafter morefully described. The cross portion I3 of the bottom wall 9 is providedwith a guideway I8 receiving a slide [9 formed on the front end of theplate I! for limiting the forward movement of the plate I! with respectto the bottom wall 9.

The rear end of the plate I! is formed with a right angularly disposedupwardly extending section normally closing a centrally disposed opening2i formed in the rear wall H. The upper end of the section 20 extends anappreciable distance above the tray 6 and constitutes a reflector for anelectric bulb 22 disposed prejacent said section. The threaded shank 23of the bulb is detachably secured within a; vertically disposed socket24 having its'lower end spaced an appreciable distance above the plateI! and with said lower end connected to an insulating strip 25 fixed bythe plate whereby said socket is insulated with respect to thereceptacles. The lower end of the shank 23 is provided with a centrallydisposed contact 26 extending subjacent the 1 socket 24 and engaging oneend of a contact arm' 21 secured to the strip 25. The opposite end ofthe contact arm is disposed upwardly and prejacent the socket 24 andconstitutes a resilient wiping contact 28. Disposed within thereceptacle 5 is a battery 29 having its forwardly disposed end seatedwithin a socket of a retaining member 30 secured to the plate adjacentthe front end of the latter. The opposite end of the battery has securedthereto a substantially U-shaped metallic clip 3|, the latterestablishing electrical connection with the outer metallic shell of thebattery. The clip 3| is provided with a rearwardlyextending arm 32connected to the upper end of the socket 24 whereby to establishelectrical connection between the socket and battery. Said opposit endof the battery is provided with the usual centrally disposed contact 33which is disposed in spatiality with the contact 28.

Prejacent the strip 25, the plate I! is provided with an elongatedtransverse slot in which is slidably mounted a switch element 34, theupper end of said element being provided with an insulated section 35fixed to a switch blade 36 transversely movable into and out ofengagement between the contacts 28 and 33 whereby to break and makeelectrical connection therebetween. The lower end of the element 34 isprovided with a finger-piece 31 to facilitate operation of the switchblade from without the receptacle. From the foregoing, it will beapparent that by moving the finger-piece in one direction, the electriccircuit will be completed between the bulb and battery and by moving thefinger-piece in the opposite direction, the

circuit will be broken, thus permitting the bulb to be illuminated whendesired.

The rear end of the tray is provided with a centrally disposed opening38 through which extends the upper portion of a transparent housing 39,the latter being disposed prejacent the reflector or section 20 andformed with front, topand side walls 43, 4| and 42 respectively. Therear edge of that portion of the tray adjacent the front wall of thetransparent housing is formed with a depending resilient lip 43 providedwith a rearwardly extending detent 44 normally seated within atransverse groove 45 formed in the front wall of the transparent housingfor maintaining the latter in adjusted position with respect to theplate and section 29. The inner faces of the side walls 42 of thetransparent housing are formed with opposed vertical grooves 46 slidablyreceiving the ends of guides 41 secured to the inner face of the section'20 whereby upon release of the detent 44 from the front wall 40 thetransparent housing may be removed upwardly to expose the bulb wherebythe latter may be conveniently replaced. The front wall 40 of thetransparent housing, subjacent the groove 45, is formed with an opening48 through which the adjacent e'ndof the battery 29 and the arm 2Bextend, it being understood that the adjacent portions 'of the frontwall 48, top and side walls 4| and 42, section Ziiand the plate I? coactto enclose the bulb therein and protect'thefsame;

The upper end of the rear Wall II is provided with a pair of hinges 49,one disposed on each side of the'section 20, and which hinges areconnected to the rear end of a cover 50. The cover 50 is provided with amirror i on its inner face whereby when the cover'is in open positionthe user may utilize the mirror to facilitate the application of thecosmetics in the usual manner. The rear end of the cover 59 is fashionedwith an opening 52 registering with the opening 38 formed in the trayand receiving therethrough the upper portion of the transparent housing39 when said cover.is in closed position as illustrated in Figure4. Itwill therefore be apparent that'the illu'minating means serves toperform a dual functionin that it illuminates the face of the user andthe mirror when the latter is in open position and serves as aflash-light when the cover is in closed position.

By mounting the battery and the bulb on the plate 11 in the foregoingdescribed manner, said battery and bulb may be easily replaced bylongitudinally and rearwardly withdrawing the plate from the receptacle5.

Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully explain theinvention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it isnotindispensable that all the features of the invention be usedconjointly since they may be employed advantageously in variouscombinations and sub-combinations. It is obvious that the invention isnot confined to the herein described use therefor as it may be utilizedfor any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the specificconstruction as illustrated and described as the same is onlyillustrative of the principles of operation, which are capable ofextended application in various forms, and that the inventioncomprehends all construction withinthe scope of the claim.

What'I claim is:

Ina vanity case, a substantially rectangular shaped receptacle includingtop, bottom, side, front and rear walls, said top and bottom wallshaving slots, said rear wall having a slot connecting the slots of thebottom and top walls,

guides on the bottom wall adjacent the slot thereof, -a plate supportedby said guides within the slot of the bottom wall and having a reflectorportion extending at right angles thereto and normally closing the slotof the rear wall and projecting through the slot of the top wall andterminating above the latten'guides carried by said reflector portion ofthe plate, an illuminating means in the receptacle and carried by theplate and movable therewith, a transparent housing for said illuminatingmeans and slidable inthe latter-named guides and projecting through theslot of the top wall, a spring lip formed on the top wall andfrictionally engaging the housing to releasably secure the latteragainst sliding movement in the second-mentioned guides, said top -wallhaving depressions therein providing compartments for cosmetics, and .amirrored cover for closing the compartments and hinged on the receptacleat the rear wall and having a slot to permit the housing to extendthrough the cover when the latter is in either opened or closedposition.

STANLEY J. MATWAY.

